CINCINNATI, Ohio (AFP) — Rafael Nadal steamrolled to another overwhelming victory this season, crushing Florent Serra 6-0, 6-1 on Thursday in the second round of the ATP Cincinnati Masters tournament.

The lop-sided victory took just 46 minutes and was the second runaway win for the world number two in less than three months. He also lost just one game in a dominating victory over German Denis Gremelmayr in the Barcelona semi-finals.

Nadal also lost only four games when he beat number 84 Serra, of France, at the Australian Open in January.

Nadal laid down another marker for Roger Federer, whose top ranking he is closing in on and now trailing by a hair-thin 300 points.

But the Spaniard refuses to peer into the future: "I'm focussed on Cincinnati, this is a very important tournament.

"If the number one comes it will be very difficult to achieve. I have to keep playing like I have for the last four months," said the Roland Garros and Wimbledon winner.

Dmitry Tursunov sent 11th seed Richard Gasquet packing, the Frenchman collapsing in the second set to go down 7-6 (10/8), 6-0.

Djokovic is being left behind as Nadal closes in on Federer. The Australian Open champion Djokovic trails Nadal by a massive 1,300 points and did not help his cause when he lost in the quarter-finals to Britain's Andy Murray during a Toronto title defence a week ago.

He came to that event with minimal confidence after going out in the Wimbledon second round to Marat Safin. But the Serb may not be quite ready to resume the fight.

"I'm just trying to focus on my game, on my career and my matches. That's my priority," he said. "I just want to improve."

The winner has advanced beyond the Cincinnati second round for the first time this week on his fourth appearance.

"I'm only 21. I don't want to put an extra pressure. I have enough pressure and expectations of being a favourite in most matches I get in.

"Thinking about number two or number one in the world would create an extra amount of pressure, which I don't need in this moment."

Blake continued the rescue of a modest hardcourt start, producing a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Frenchman Gilles Simon, who won the Indianapolis title earlier this month.

Murray dropped an early break but roared back over erratic American Sam Querrey for a 7-6 (7/3), 6-1 victory. The British number one looked healthy after tweaking his knee in Toronto. A scan showed him good to play this week.

Blake, who has won five of his 10 ATP titles at US events, has been trying to recover after second-round disappointments at Roland Garros and Wimbledon.

He was badly let down in Indianapolis a fortnight ago, after winning the first set but losing a semi-final to Tursunov. Blake fell 6-1, 6-2 last weekend to Nicolas Kiefer.

Spain's fifth seed David Ferrer became the highest-ranked player to fall, going down in a struggle lasting two and a half hours to Ecuador's Nicolas Lapentti 7-6 (7/2), 3-6, 6-3.

WHEN ISN'T JUSTICE THE MOST IMPORTANT THING?EVEN WHILE CELEBRATING THE OLYMPICS?............................................................................................Report on DarfurFrom: AlJazeeraEnglishThe text from the Youtube upload:The United Nations African Mission in Darfur has been touted as the largest peacekeeping operation the UN has ever undertaken.

But six months after forming, the joint force is suffering from a shortage of troops and a lack of equipment.

Furthermore, authorities are threatening to expel them if the International Criminal Court indicts Omar al-Bashir, the Sudanese president, for alleged crimes committed in Darfur.

Mohammed Adow joined a group of peacekeepers on patrol in Southern Darfur. The following text is from Amnesty International:

Torture. Long-term detentions without charge or trial. Censorship of the internet and media. Does this sound like a country that’s trying to improve its human rights record?

Ye Guozhu, a human rights defender in Beijing, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for taking action against forced evictions related to the Olympics. Amnesty International fears he has been tortured while in detention. He was due to be released on Saturday, July 26 but will now remain imprisoned until October, after the end of the 2008 Olympic Games.

Chinese authorities have stepped up their repression of human rights defenders in order to “clean up” Beijing.With the Olympics only 10 days away, take action and urge China to create a positive human rights legacy. In 2001 China made a promise to improve its human rights record if given the honor of hosting the Olympic Games. Instead, China has become increasingly repressive with crackdowns on dissent and the rounding up and arrest of human rights defenders. Citing "security", China has imprisoned individuals for doing nothing more than drawing international attention to ongoing human rights violations.

Your visit to the Olympics Games this summer is a historic moment for you to promote human rights in China, and we urge you to express concern about the increase of repression in the run-up to the Games to the Chinese authorities. As the leader of the United States, your support for human rights would send a clear message to China and the world that Americans are fully committed to the preservation of human dignity - one of the "Fundamental Principles of Olympism".

When applying to the International Olympic Committee in 2001, the Chinese government suggested the Games would act as a catalyst for human rights developments in the country. Unfortunately, as China prepares for the Games, its human rights record has deteriorated. Human right defenders have been arrested, journalists were harassed, “re-education through labor” programs proliferate, and executions continue.

Mr. President, please use your position as leader of the United States to push the Chinese towards upholding their human rights commitments, thus ensuring a positive Olympic legacy.

NUMBER ONE - IN THE LAST THREE TOURNAMENTSTHREE SURFACESROLAND GARROS - CLAYWIMBLEDON - GRASSTORONTO ROGERS CUP - HARDWin number 29 in a row for Nadaland fifth title in five events over the last 3 months.....................................

.....................................Highlights from the final at the 2008 Rogers Masters in Toronto.Rafael Nadal takes on Nicolas Keifer."UNOFFICIAL BEST PLAYER IN THE WORLD"Watch highlights from all ATP Masters Series marquee matches at www.atpmastersseries.tvFrom: ATP

.................................................Uploaded byElSobacodeNadalNadal deafeats Kiefer in Toronto on hard July 27, 2008directly after winning on clay at Roland Garrosand on grass at Wimbledon

IT TAKES COURAGE APPARENTLY TO END GENOCIDE AND WE ARE PROOF THAT COURAGE IS RARE

About our fellow human beings.....

I received this text in an email today from another Darfur activist community leader.

* Damanga Coalition for Freedom and Democracy has received verydisturbing news from different sources this weekend confirming that a“Kasha” is taking place right now in the three cities of the capitalof Sudan, particularly in the marketplaces and shopping centers.“Kasha” is a term in Arabic which loosely means, “Clean the capital ofdirt”. This term has been used since the time of former PresidentNimery, during which time the security personnel and the police wouldask people in the streets for their IDs and where they came from. Ifthey found out that these innocent, unsuspecting people were from theSouth, or Darfur, or Nuba, they forced them on trucks and sent them tojail. In Jail, they would ask them to return to where they came from,but only after inflicting extreme brutality.

When al-Bashir’s government came to power, he used the same term,“Kasha”. At first the word was used figuratively, however iteventually took on a literal meaning. Al-Bashir took on all the sametactics as Nimery’s regime, only worse. Al-Bashir’s regime eventuallychanged the term “Kasha” to “Al-Nizam” which means to organize or tomake tidy. While the actions behind the term remained the same, orpossibly worse, al-Bashir’s regime chose this particular term tochange the connotation of the process. By a simple turn of phrase, al-Bashir managed to make his actions sound innocent, potentially goodeven, and completely unrelated to genocide.

The act of “Al-Nizam” has escalated dramatically within a few days ofthe indictment of al-Bashir. The escalation began when the securitypersonnel in mufty interrupted people in the marketplace, on thestreets and in various other public spaces. Once it is discovered thata person is Darfuri, they are beaten up and taken to ghost houseswhere they are beaten further and then tortured. These incidentsremind us of when the Justice and Equality Movement attacked Khartoumand the government killed dozens of women and children, and torturedseveral others. This time the government of Al-Bashir is apparentlysending a new message to the ICC and to those who are in support ofthe indictment by taking action against the innocent Darfuris who livein the capital. It is very interesting that al-Bashir has contradictedhimself. He claims that Darfuris are supporting him in Darfur, yet heis abusing them in the capital city.

Damanga condemns segregation based on racism and the denial offreewill to the citizens of Sudan that comes in tangent with that. Weurge the ICC to continue its effort against this tyranny, and bringthe tyrant to justice soon. We hope that all of the African leaderswill stand up and cooperate with the ICC, not with the perpetratorsand killers, so as to assure justice and dignity for the people ofSudan. We urge the U.N. Security Council to continue its efforts toenable the ICC to do its job, to bring al-Bashir and his cabinet whocommitted genocide and war crimes, to justice. We also advise the U.N.Security Council not to impede the efforts of justice andaccountability, and to continue to support the justice that the ICC istrying to bring, until those perpetrators are all accountable, andsent to The Hague. We applaud the arrest of former Yugoslaviangenocide criminal, Radovan Karadzic, and we hope that the arrest of al-Bashir will follow suit. Date: July 29, 2008

* Mission of Damanga Coalition for Freedom and DemocracyThrough non-partisan research, analysis and public education, Damanga promotes the human rights of the people of Darfur, Sudan and elsewhere in the world. We educate the people of the region, the United States of America and beyond about their rights to freedom, equality and participation in government. Damanga seeks to aid the disempowered, including the victims of the Darfur conflict, through charitable work supporting education and livelihoods, so these people can work for the preservation of their communities.

Damanga works toward these objectives through publication on our web site of non-partisan research and analysis and presentations based on this research and analysis. Damanga makes these presentations at academic institutions, faith-based groups, human rights events and responds to invitations from concerned individuals and groups from diverse backgrounds.

Furthermore, Damanga seeks to protect the people of Sudan whose lives have been violated and marginalized because of their ethnicity, religion, gender, culture or language. Damanga wishes to improve the lives of the 8 million Massaleit, Fur, Dajo, Zagawa, Bargi, Tama, Gimir, Berty, and other displaced peoples in the Darfur region of Sudan. Damanga will continue to contact people in cities, in villages, and in refugee camps, to advocate in the world community on their behalf, and to establish a center for the purpose of gathering and disseminating information about the current crisis in Darfur.

By creating and maintaining a link between the oppressed people of Darfur and Western organizations, governments, and the media, Damanga hopes to coordinate a movement to end the genocide in Darfur, stop the oppression, and to establish the foundations of democracy. In order to accomplish this the founders of Damanga recognize that the following conditions must be met:

An international tribunal must be established to prosecute all those who have committed war crimes against the people of Darfur;

All internally displaced persons must be guaranteed the right to return to their towns and villages, they must be given free and full access to humanitarian aid, even in the most remote areas of the region, and they must be compensated for lives and property lost;

Once the people of Darfur are returned to their land they will need basic resources in order to build houses, schools, hospitals and other basic necessities of life;Finally all of Sudan's people must be allowed equal political rights, which includes sharing in the power and wealth of the country.

>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:

The term Diaspora (in Greek, διασπορά – "a scattering or sowing of seeds") refers to the forced or voluntary dispersal of any population sharing common ethnic identity to leave their settled territory, and become residents in areas often far removed from the former.'

>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:

An email text that I received July 26, 2008:

Some members in U.N. security council are preparing aresolution to defer ICC case against al-Bashir. Libya, South Africa, and Russia are working on aresolution language.France and Britain must stop these efforts.U.S. is in awkward position since it is not a member of the ICC.

......John Prendergast, co-chairman of the Enough Project, which campaigns against genocide, said the Security Council’s ability to put off Mr. Bashir’s prosecution could provide the Council with its best leverage to influence Sudan. But he criticized the current talk of a suspension, saying the Security Council could squander its power by dangling the prospect prematurely.

“Faced with this extraordinary opportunity, the Council is ready to give it away without anything in return,” Mr. Prendergast said.

If the Security Council does vote on a resolution to defer the pursuit of Mr. Bashir, it could put the United States in a tricky position. The United States has been notably strong in its criticism of the situation in Darfur, going so far as to call it genocide. But it has not signed on to the International Criminal Court, and vehemently opposed its establishment...

Another email that I received today:

The Special Courts of al-Bashir have just handed downdeath sentences to 8 individuals allegedlyparticipated on May 10th attack on the Capital (Khartoum) byDarfur rebel movement - Justice and Equality Movement - JEM.

I'll Remember You

By Bob Dylan

I'll remember youWhen I've forgotten all the rest,You to me were true,You to me were the best.When there is no more,You cut to the coreQuicker than anyone I knew.When I'm all aloneIn the great unknown,I'll remember you.

I'll remember youAt the end of the trail,I had so much left to do,I had so little time to fail.There's some people thatYou don't forget,Even though you've only seen'mOne time or two.When the roses fadeAnd I'm in the shade,I'll remember you.

I'll remember youWhen the wind blows through the piney wood.It was you who came right through,It was you who understood.Though I'd never sayThat I done it the wayThat you'd have liked me to.In the end,My dear sweet friend,I'll remember you.

The ATP website live streaming didn't work for the Final due to technical difficulties. And ESPN2 aired the final, but not live. Then we had a thunderstorm and almost the entire match on ESPN2 was completely missed. So I am waiting to see the fireworks and the ceremony once someone uploads it to Youtube.

More pictures coming of the Rogers Cup

Next tournament is in Cincinnati. www.cincytennis.com The second round play begins Monday, July 28, 2008

I am so far behind on the Rafael Nadal's matches and pictures. Tomorrow, Rafa plays Nicolas Kiefer in the Final in Toronto at the Rogers Cup.

You can catch it online for free www.justin.tv/slazenger(works on both MACs and PCs). This is exactly what you would see on the ATP website where you have to pay. It just doesn't have the clarity that the ATP has, but it is more dependable than the streaming at the ATP in my experience. You have to pay to use the ATP streaming. The ATP website doesn't work on MACs.

You can also catch it on the tvunetworks.com, which only works on PCs.Go to Sports when there, then use the 10006 Star Sports channel. This requires free software installation, first.

ESPN2 is scheduled to air it from 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. However, the Rogers Cup website says it can start as early as 1:30 p.m. The Doubles Final Match precedes the Singles Final Match so it depends on how long the doubles match goes.

The match pictures here are of Round 2 in Toronto (Rafa didn't play Round 1), where Rafael Nadal defeated Jesse Levine 6-4, 6-2. He played a hard fought match Saturday, July 26 against Andy Murray. Murray played fabulously. Rafa won however 6-7, 3-6.

About Me

I love my life. I love where I live. And I am passionate about my passions. I love to dance. Necessary to live: music, piano, singing, writing, acting, painting.
I have been fighting for and supporting the arts all my adult life. Since 2004, I have been working with other activists to end the Darfur genocide.
I have traveled to Europe many times since my early twenties. Places I have been: many USA states including Hawaii, Montreal, Canada, Barbados, France, Spain, Luxembourg, England, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Greece and Germany - and have wonderful memories.
My last trip was in May - June 2013 to Spain.
I would like to travel to Europe and Kyoto, Japan.
I love the southwest where I have visited Hopi, Navajo, Zia and San Idlefonso potters.
Life is exciting and I intend to live it full-out to the end.
B.S. and M.M., both in music

Links

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Khartoum, Sudan Stop Genocide Time
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Spain Time
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RAFA NADAL -BRING BACK LONG PANTS - SLEEVELESS TOPS
Double Click on Videos to Enlarge
Darfur - The Abandoned Genocide - a video by Sandra Hammel
Want to help? Call 1~800~GENOCIDE
"May I Suggest" by Susan Werner
Satchita - Playing for Change
Stand By Me ~ Playing for Change
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Genocide is not only a word,
it is crying of the whole human race.
There is nothing redeeming about being silent
when speaking up is the humane thing to do.
The honor and integrity of the human race is at stake.

"...And these for whom life has no repose, live at times in their rare moments of happiness with such strength and indescribable beauty, the spray of their moment's happiness is flung so high and dazzingly over the wide sea of suffering, that the light of it, spreading its radiance, touches others too with its enchantment..." Hemann Hesse STEPPENWOLF